Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsafes’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsafes’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; intense red purple-colored flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar Zalsafes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zalsafes’.

The new Alstroemeria is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new cut flower Alstroemeria cultivars with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive flower colors and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in June, 1997 in Hillegom, The Netherlands, of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as 96177-007, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as 96130-002, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands in 1998.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by root divisions in a controlled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands, since August, 1998, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Zalsafes have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsafes’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zalsafes’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Intense red purple-colored flowers.     -   4. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had darker red purple-colored         flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were shorter than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had shorter pedicels than         plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Stalilas, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,207. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of the cultivar Stalilas in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were shorter than plants of         the cultivar Stalilas.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger flowers than plants         of the cultivar Stalilas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Zalsafes’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in ground beds. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15 to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 10 to 15° C. and light levels averaged 5,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and description were about one year-old. The photograph and the description were taken during August and September. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar Zalsafes. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection             identified as 96177-007, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida             identified as 96130-002, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By root divisions.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; white, close to             155D, in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.         -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 to             30 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color:             Close to 155D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy appearance.             Vigorous growth habit.         -   Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 80 to 90             days.         -   Number of flowering stems produced per year.—About 200 to             240.         -   Plant height.—About 90 to 120 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 20 to 30 cm.         -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About 75             to 100 cm. Diameter: About 6 to 8 mm. Internode length:             About 2 to 4 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Glabrous. Color:             Close to 144A; glossy.         -   Foliage description.—Leaves asymmetrical; sessile. Length:             About 14 to 17 cm. Width: About 2.5 to 4.5 cm. Shape: Linear             to lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Venation pattern: Parallel. Color: Developing and fully             developed foliage, upper surface: Close to 137A to 137B;             slightly glossy. Developing and fully developed foliage,             lower surface: Close to 137C. Venation: Upper surface, close             to 137A to 137B; lower surface, close to 137C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels. Perianth segments separate. Freely and             continuously flowering. Flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the             spring in The Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 12 to 16 days.         -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 2.5 to 4.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1 to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color:             Greenish yellow.         -   Umbel height.—About 10 to 12 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 15 to 20 cm.         -   Number of flowers per umbel.—About 15 to 20.         -   Flower length (height).—About 5 to 7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.5 to 6.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 6 to 6.5 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 4.5 to 6.5 cm.             Length, median segment: About 4 to 6 cm. Width, lateral and             median segments: About 2 to 2.5 cm. Size, outer perianth:             Length, lateral and median segments: About 4.5 to 6.5 cm.             Width, lateral and median segments: About 3.5 to 4 cm.             Shape, inner perianth, lateral and median segments:             Oblanceolate. Shape, outer perianth, lateral and median             segments: Obovate. Apex, inner perianth, lateral and median             segments: Acute. Apex, outer perianth, lateral and median             segments: Bracket-shaped. Base, inner and outer perianths,             lateral and median segments: Attenuate. Margin, inner             perianth, lateral and median segments: Entire; weakly             undulate. Margin, outer perianth, lateral segments: Entire;             moderately undulate. Margin, outer perianth, median segment:             Entire; weakly undulate. Texture, inner and outer perianths,             lateral and median segments: Smooth, glabrous; velvety.             Color, inner perianth: When opening and fully opened,             lateral segments, upper surface: Towards the apex, 78B;             mid-section, 3C; towards the base, 77D; stripes, purplish             close to 187A. When opening and fully opened, median             segment, upper surface: Close to 78B; stripes, purplish             close to 187A. When opening and fully opened, lateral             segments, lower surface: Towards the apex, 78B; mid-section,             3C; towards the base, 77C; stripes, purplish close to 187A.             When opening and fully opened, median segment, lower             surface: Close to 78B. Color, outer perianth: When opening             and fully opened, lateral and median segments, upper             surface: Center, close to 71A; towards the margins, close to             78B; occasional stripes, purplish close to 187A; tip,             greenish. When opening and fully opened, lateral and median             segments, lower surface: Close to 71A; towards the margins,             close to 78B; tip and venation, greenish.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4 to 8 cm. Diameter: About 3 to             4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 20 to 50° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 to             4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 20 to 50° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 8 mm. Anther             diameter: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 79A. Pollen             amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 95A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Style length: About 3.5 to 4.5 cm.             Style color: Purple. Stigma color: Purple. Ovary color:             Close to 143C.         -   Fruit.—Shape: Globular. Color: Brownish. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemerias. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from −5 to 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsafes’, as illustrated and described. 